Patent Application
20080041232
The invention relates to a brew head of a coffee maker having an automatic sealing assembly powered by a hydraulic system.
The invention relates to a brew chamber of a coffee maker having a sealing assembly which is automatically sealed by a hydraulic system.
As used herein the hydraulic system consists of the hydraulic sealing assembly and all its supportive sub-assemblies as described herein below.
This invention provides a hydraulic sealing assembly of a coffee maker comprising: a boiler assembly, a sealing assembly, and slide drawer assembly operatively linked to sustain a sufficient pressure to create a sealing surface between the rim of the pod holder and the boiler piston seal ring. Sealing is achieved by operation of the boiler's system pressure which creates a local stress on the surface of the boiler seal ring great enough to withstand the internal fluid pressure of the boiler. Accordingly, the boiler system pressure is sufficient where such boiler pressure is capable of deforming the boiler seal ring so as to make such boiler seal ring make surface contact with the rim of the pod holder. As such, in one embodiment system boiler pressure may be a minimum of 0.5 bar. In another embodiment system boiler pressure may be a maximum of 150 bar.
The boiler assembly comprises a boiler top part, a boiler mid part, a boiler low part, a heater element, inlet tube, outlet tube, cold water tube and a metal support bracket. The boiler assembly is provided with a heating chamber for heating water. The base of the boiler assembly is open so as to embrace the sealing assembly which is mounted on the metal support bracket at the base of the boiler assembly.
The sealing assembly comprises a hot water tube, spring support washer, cone spring, wire loop, cone low metal, piston seal, closing washer, piston seal cover, piston valve, O-ring, piston spring, piston, silicone ball, ball valve spring, spring bracket and water plate. The sealing assembly is mounted on the metal support bracket to seal the base of the boiler. The accordion-liked shaped piston seal allows for expansion in the vertical direction.
The drawer assembly consists of fixed clamps, a pod holder, a silicone nozzle and a pod holder sub-drawer. Fixed clamps are mounted on the metal support bracket and form a cabinet for the pod holder sub-drawer.
This intent of the present design is to use the water in the boiler to seal the pod holder. This design differs from the current state of the art in that it utilizes a hydraulic locking system. There is no lever, handle or any other mechanical part whereby the user manually locks the brew chamber.
The present design is analogous to existing pod coffee makers. As shown in
Second, the user then simply presses a button for brewing. In doing so, the pump is activated and water is pumped from the water tank to the boiler.
The piston valve 17, piston spring 19, O-ring 18, piston 20, silicone ball 21, ball valve spring 22, spring bracket 23, water plate 24 are mounted together by screws to form the piston valve sub-assembly. The piston valve sub-assembly is mounted with the connector by screws to form a closed system of the sealing assembly. The piston valve sub-assembly controls the water flow from the boiler to the pod holder 27. When hot water is brewed without the pod in the pod holder 27, the piston valve sub-assembly is initially closed. If the pump pressure continuously increases in the boiler to approximately 0.5 bars, the silicone ball 21 is pressed down and releases the hot water. After the pump stops, the ball valve spring 22 returns to its normal position to ensure proper sealing.
When hot water is brewed with a pod in the pod holder 27, the piston seal 14 and piston valve subassembly is lowered down to seal the pod holder. In doing so, the water plate 24 embraces the top of the pod. The piston valve sub-assembly is connected to the piston seal 14 by connector 13.
A spring support washer 8, cone spring 9, wire loop 11 and cone low metal 12, hot water tube 10 are mounted on connector 13 which then mounts with the piston seal 14 to the boiler low region 6. This combination keeps the connector 13 and cone spring 9 moving in the vertical direction. The hot water tube 10 delivers hot water to the piston valve sub-assembly. As the piston valve sub-assembly is lowered, the pod pushes up piston 17 and prevents further movement of the water plate 24. The piston 17 with O-ring 19 moves up opening the seal and thus allowing hot water to flow into the pod holder.
After brewing, the pump stops and the cone spring 9, connector 11, and piston seal 13 return back to their normal positions. Any excess water flows out of the boiler from outlet tube 2. The rise of piston valve 14, causes pod holder 27 to be un-sealed/unlocked. In the unlocked/unsealed position, the user needs only slide out the holder sub-drawer 28 and take out the pod holder 27.
This invention provides a coffee maker wherein the brewing chamber seals itself upon pressurization. In an embodiment this pressurization is achieved by a hydraulic locking assembly.
In a separate embodiment, the hydraulic locking assembly comprises an expandable seal. In a further embodiment this expandable seal is made of silicone material. Finally, this invention provides the above coffee maker wherein the brewing chamber is accessible for placement or replacement of a pod without the need for manual force in an unpressurized condition.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments, thereof, it should be understood that the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art, variations and modifications can be affected while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure, description, and figures are for illustrative purposes only, and do not in any way limit the invention which is defined only by the claims.
